Abstract:
This project aims to evaluate the potential and actual threats of introduced organisms by way of ANARE and ecotourism activities to Australias subantarctic islands of Heard and McDonald Is and Macquarie Is. The World Heritage listed Territories of Heard and McDonald Islands are described as containing the largest subantarctic island for which there is no evidence of flora and fauna introduced by ... human activity. It is important to minimise the likelihood of humans introducing plants, invertebrates and microbiota (that may become established and alter ecosystem processes) to such a special environment.

This project is examining current practices for evidence of inadvertent propagule collection and transfer during current activities.

We have examined cargo and cargo loading, food and rat baiting on ships to Australia's subantarctic islands. Alien species found on cargo have been collected and are in the process of being identified and tested for viability.

Expeditioners were surveyed with regard to their travel 6mth prior to going to Heard or Macquarie Is.

Equipment and clothing of expeditioners were vacuumed. These samples were collected for later analyses.

Old ANARE ruins and equipment were photographed and species colonising these artefacts were recorded. The size of vascular and non-vascular colonisers were measured. Growth rates will be determined from this data.

In conjunction with ASAC Project 2152(Drs Skotnicki and Selkirk), surveys were undertaken at sites were glaciers are in retreat to ascertain if aliens were present and to record early colonisers. None were found.